Green light for Bondi Pavilion restoration

19 December 2019

Waverley Council is scheduled to begin its restoration of the iconic Bondi Pavilion in May 2020 after the Sydney Eastern City Planning Panel approved the Council’s development application.

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said the approval marks an important chapter in the history of the heritage building built in 1928.

“We are very excited to have the green light to restore the Pavilion to its former glory with a detailed design that has been guided by the Bondi Pavilion Conservation Management Plan (CMP) and extensive community consultation,” Mayor Masselos said.

“The community sees the ‘Pav’ as the as the ‘Town Hall’ of Bondi and we are proud to be retaining the Pavilion as a community and cultural hub.”

Waverley residents and the more than one million visitors who use the Pavilion each year can expect to see:

  • New and improved amenities on the northern side of the Pavilion, including a family change room.
  • Renovated community spaces
  • A larger gallery and renovation of the theatre
  • A ‘Bondi Story Room’ which will be used as a flexible exhibition/educational space
  • A community radio studio
  • New tourist centre/box office to the north of the entrance foyer
  • Renovated commercial spaces for hospitality and other services
  • A new indigenous public artwork
  • A larger space for the Pottery Studio and a second kiln

“This is the first restoration plan that has been guided by a CMP, which is a state government requirement for the redevelopment of heritage buildings. A lot of work went into developing the CMP and it will ensure that the historic integrity of the Pavilion is retained.

“The Pavilion is used by a range of community and cultural groups and commercial businesses. We are continuing to work with these stakeholders to find alternatives for them as we deliver this restoration.

“I again wish to thank the community, our Pavilion stakeholders and Council’s officers for their collaborative efforts in making this restoration a reality. Bondi Pavilion is a place where creativity and community will continue to thrive,” Mayor Masselos said.

Council expects the works to take around 18 months to complete and initiatives are being planned to activate the location during this time.